Butte County authorities raid marijuana grow in Berry Creek

BERRY CREEK &GT;&GT; Authorities have detained three people who are being investigated for allegedly using a medical marijuana recommendation as a "guise" to grow marijuana illegally, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Unit.

SEU detectives, with assistance of the Butte Interagency Narcotics Taskforce, served a search warrant early Thursday morning at a residence in the 300 block of Raccoon Road, according to a press release. Three people, identified as 46-year-old Frank A. Marrone of Berry Creek and Florida; 42-year-old Arthur L. Barnhart of Oroville; and Letitia A. Tryon, 51, of Berry Creek, were detained without incident.

A large marijuana garden that included 280 marijuana plants was reportedly found on the property, according to SEU. More than a pound and a half of processed marijuana and a pound of marijuana hash were allegedly also found.

Authorities claim the suspects were "using Proposition 215 as a guise to hide their illegal activities," according to the press release.

Marrone was arrested on suspicion of marijuana cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale and transportation. His bail is set at $165,000.

The Sheriff's Office is seeking criminal complaints on Barnhart and Tryon for alleged marijuana cultivation.

According to SEU, the marijuana plants consumed almost 4,000 gallons of water per week, and an investigation revealed there were several water deliveries of 2,000 gallons twice a week.